The treatment of injuries and wounds is a branch of Veterinary Surgery of the utmost importance to the owners of horses, for accidents are of every day occurrence. We shall, however, not be able to devote so much space to the subject as some would deem desirable.
Flesh Wounds may be classified as Contused Wounds, when there is an injury inflicted on the surface of the body by mechanical violence without rending the skin; Incised Wounds, when such an injury is inflicted by a clean cutting instrument; Lacerated or Jagged Wounds, when the parts are torn and the lips of the wound are irregular; and Punctured Wounds, when the injury is deep rather than broad, and the effect of piercing as by a stab.
Contused Wounds
Definition.—Wounds are said to be “contused” when the skin, although bruised, is not cut through or broken; they are followed by the usual symptoms of inflammation, namely, redness, swelling, heat and pain.
Causes.—These can be best understood by one or two illustrative examples. A horse gets the collar chain around his heels at night when he becomes fast, and, in struggling to free himself, he bruises and excoriates the hollow of the pastern. Next morning he is found very lame, with swelling and great tenderness of the parts, but there is no rent in the skin. He has what is called “Contused Wound.” Or, another cause of injury commonly occurs in cavalry stables, where the horses are separated from each other by an iron bar, over which one of them manages to get one of his hind legs. In struggling to get back, he bruises the inside of his thighs, and probably his belly as well. Next day we find him with his leg considerably swollen, lame, and tender on pressure, from “Contused Wounds.” Other causes are kicks from horses, blows from bad-tempered grooms, and falling on hard ground.
Treatment.—Apply the Veterinary Oil to the part two or three times per day, and give the first day or two, the A.A., three times per day, after which, an occasional dose of I.I.
Incised Wounds
Definition.—Incised wounds are those in which a clean cut is made through the integuments or parts underneath, merely dividing textures without lacerating them, and are generally caused by some sharp instrument.
Treatment.—In such cases it is necessary to bring the lips of the wound together, and retain them so by what are called sutures, the best of which is an ordinary pin passed through the skin a quarter of an inch from the edges of the wound, whose lips are then kept close together by the further addition of a small piece of tow passed over, under and around the pin, forming a figure thus $, after which the point of the pin may be cut off with a pair of scissors. These pins, or, as they are called, “twisted sutures,” may be placed one inch apart from each other. Most Veterinary Surgeons use what is called the “interrupted suture,” as follows: A curved needle, armed with a strong thread, well waxed, is passed through the skin on each side of the wound, when the ends of the thread are drawn together and tied in a common knot. As many of these stitches are to be made as the length of the wound renders necessary, but they should be about three-quarters of an inch apart. These sutures, as a general rule, should be allowed to remain as long as they will; but should an effusion of serum or matter take place in the interior of the wound, the lower or most dependent one should be taken out, and the fluid allowed to escape; and then, but not before, warm applications may be applied. Exceptional cases, however, do occur when, from the extent of the injury, considerable swelling takes place about the third day, and constitutional disturbance intervenes. In these cases the sutures may be removed; but in the majority, the swelling must be looked upon as a natural consequence attendant on the formation of lymph, which may be seen oozing from the lips of the wound, and which is necessary to glue them together, till the small vessels pass from side to side and form a permanent bond of union. Always dress the wound and keep the edges of the opening moist with the Veterinary Oil, applying it from day to day, to prevent inflammation, suppuration and to promote healing by “first intention.” The interrupted or thread suture is preferable for wounds about the head, as the horse would probably tear out the pin by rubbing it against the rack or manger. Previous to applying sutures, we should remove all foreign bodies and clots of blood from the wound, and oil every part well with the Veterinary Oil, and give A.A. four times a day.
Hemorrhage, although causing great alarm to the uninitiated in veterinary science, is generally a matter of very little consequence, except a large artery is divided, as the bleeding will soon stop without our assistance. But should the blood come in jets, be of a bright scarlet color, and not stop in a reasonable time, we should either seize the open mouth of the vessel with forceps and pass a ligature around it or apply a compress of tow and a bandage. Cold water dashed on the part, or Humphreys’ Marvel Witch Hazel will frequently have the desired effect.